Deluge valve



DELUGE VALVE Filed Feb. '7, 1945- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. L EzoY M A 4/6 H/5 A TFOZNEY Patented May 10, 1949 [TED mrss PATENT o e-nos ,DELUGE Leroy Lewis, Basement, Pa. 'Applicati'onFbruary 7, 1945; SetialNofi5-7 6w63 3tClaims. .1 flihis {invention relates toalves zandis concenned primarily withsthatityp 'ei'valveemployed in :fire protective :systems :of' :the sor-called ".dry pipe tyne,:;and which valvezis generally knownas a deluge (valve.

.At 41313.8 present time, the V of dry *pipe sys terns for-fire:protectiver urposes-has becomerquite widespread; -;Dry pipezsystemsrma-y berdivided-into two'ggeneral classes. .-In one :typeythe pressure of air {is maintainedzat a,:.required1evel throughout the system includinpflthecasing of the deluge valve, :and? whencthisair :pressurezis :reduced as by the ppeningrof one otthe sprayinozzles, :the deluge valve :isopened and water is admitted therethrough to the system; 'IThecthertype of dry pipe system: iswcharacterized :by the ruse ,ofs an electricalzcircuitifor controlling the openingiof :the deluge valve. fit is this electrical 1dry'pipersystem-with which this invention :is directly concerned.

In the -present (day electrically controlled dry pipe systems, the conduits :leading tothe various spray nozzles are maintained I dry and free from water. Appropriately located throughout the building or: area which is to be protected are-thermostats which usually take the form .of laifixed temperature or ra-teof rise thermostat, :nowwell known in this art. Such a thermostat is affected either by' a predetermined rise of temperature,

or theattainment of .a fixedtemperature-tenempletewthe circuittothe solenoid'mechanismwhich controlsthedeluge valve. Thus, whenthe circuit is .completed, the deluge valve is opened andwater is admitted to the dry pipe system and is distributed throughthe various :spray nozzles.

It is evident that these now known electrically controlled dry pipe systems are characterized by having the deluge valve opened uponthe-completion of the electrical circuit. Itzis equally evident that if there should be a power failurexthere is no current-available to actuate the :solenoid and open vthe deluge :yalve.

This invention .is :founded .onthe belief that .in ma-ny instances it may ,be desirable :to have the deluge valve :open, notwupon the completion of .the

electricalcircuitbut rather upon failure or breakment, the conventional deluge valve,.with:casing -v.2 I and clapper; gate; negether-rwithzthe rdogtiorzhoming the: olapperigate zinwlosedmosition are-employ-ed; nzdetailednbjectris thempvisiomimassociation 5a .:de1uge--yalve.--Qf electrical energ-izedvmeanswwhich{cooperates uwiththe .dog to iholdithe aclapnersgateiin closed position.

Yet another object of ztheiinyentionis thepro' visioninflrinstnumentalities'mhich.upon:deeuergizingi'of the-electrical LmEaHSEIBIQaSG the dog-rand permits the .zclapper'sto .;ope.n 21111011 :the pressure ohwatenrfmmche-seume; err-supp Various other more detailed-obiectsrandradvantapes of' thelinrentiqn such :as arise :inlconnection Withscarry'me. epti theahove meted ipbiects-rin a practical embodiments-will "in :part. 'hecome apparent, :sandin ipattzbe hereinaiter stated as. :the description of zthe::inyentionmroceeds.

:Bhe iinventien, 'ztherefone, acomprises-- a: deluge e-reneecharacters denoteporrespondine:parts, and

first moremarticularly i-to-lFig. 1, the deluge valve ofthisinvention-lis shownas? cludingaa'valvecasinawhich is zreferred-tozinrits entirety by "the .referencercharacter V. --EBhe valve casing-Vvprefer ablyt-akesitherinrm which isanowtconsidered as conventional*imthisafield. ltrincludes aiflange l0 provided with openings. Iii, whereby .a dry-pipe system notzil'lustrateddiwmay Eben-connected to "the casing V, Thisrfiangeslllisurrounds an opening i 2thmugh-awhichiwater :passes as this :admittedlto the .dryrpl-pe :system which :is connected to the flange In.

:fiiibstantiallyeopposite ito. the opening M, the casing. lvlearries a: short itubular section l3 which terminates in 1a flange M ithat is' provided "with openings :zlfirwherebydtis adapted to be connected to a source of supply of water 'under pressure. Atitheinnen en'd;ithe' tubular sectionil 3= terminates .in an internally threaded ring-*N whichds in"- 3 tegral with the casing V. A valve seat ring IT has an externally threaded portion complemental to the internally threaded ring l6, and the valve seat ring is screwed thereinto. The upper free face of this seat ring 11 carries a gasket IS.

A clapper or gate valve [9 is pivotally mounted as indicated at within the casing V, and is formed with a valve surface on a ring portion 2i which is designed for sealing engagement with th gasket 18, when the clapper is in closed position.

At the side remote from the pivotal mounting 20, the clapper I9 is provided with a shoulder 22 which in closed position is engaged by complemental shoulder 23 on a dog 24 which is pivotally mounted within the valve casing V as indicated at 25. All of the structure above described is the conventional well known mechanism of a deluge valve proper.

The side of the casing V immediately adjacent to the dog 24 carries a fiat portion 26 and this flat portion is formed with an opening 21. To this flattened portion 26 and extending into and through the opening 21 is the mechanism which either holds the dog 24 in the closed position illustrated, or releases it therefrom, thus permitting opening of the clapper l9.

This mechanism includes a diaphragm assembly which is referred to in its entirety by the reference character D, together with a control box and solenoid which are referred to generally by the reference character C.

The diaphragm assembly D includes a housing defined by the parts 28 and 29 that carry complemental flanges 30 and 3| which meet with a sealing element such as a gasket shown at 32 interposed therebetween. The housing part 28 is fitted into the opening 21 and carries an end wall 33 that is disposed substantially within the casing V. This end wall 33 in turn carries a tubular part 34 having a bore 35 and counter bores 36 and 31.

A locking pin'38 is slidably received in the bore 35 and carries an engagement 39 which is slidably received in the counter bore 31. This locking pin 38 also is provided with a head 40 which normally engages the dog 24 to hold the la ter in closed position.

The tubular part'34 is formed with openings 4! in which are received retaining balls 42. These balls under certain conditions project into the bore 35 and engage a shoulder 43 on the locking pin 38. When the balls 42 so engage the shoulder 43, the locking pin 38 is held against the dog 24, thus holding the latter in clapper closing position.

A ball retainer 44 takes the form of a ring which snugly fits over the inner portion of the tubular part 34. This ring 44 is formed as an integral part of a cylindrical member 45 which has an internal diameter greater than the bore of the ball retainer 44. Thus, when the member 45, together with the ball retainer 44 are moved inwardly, speaking with reference to the valve casing, the increased diameter permits the balls 42 to be retracted from the shoulder 43, thus permitting outward movement of the locking pin 38 and release of the dog 24, which in turn releases the clapper I9.

The housing part 29 is formed with an inwardly extending stub 48 having a bore 41. A cylindrical link 48 is slidably received in the bore 4'! and its inner end is enlarged and externally threaded as shown at 49, and further enlarged at 59 with the enlarged portion 50 integrally joined to the cylindrical-member 45.

Threaded onto the enlarged part 49 is a cap member 5! and attached to the outer peripheral edge of this cap member 5| is a bellows diaphragm 52 which it will be noted is spaced from the cylindrical member 45. The inner end of the bellows 52 is secured to a ring 53 which in turn is anchored between the flanges 38 and 31. It will be noted that the member 28 is formed with an opening that communicates with the interior of the bellows 52, thus permitting expansion and contraction of the latter.

An expansion coil spring 54 is interposed between the cap 5! and inner end wall of the hous ing part 29 and functions to supplement the force and effect of the bellows diaphragm 52.

The control box C includes a side wall 55 formed with an opening 56 through which extends the housing part 29. The control box C also carries a solenoid 57 having a plunger 58 which is connected to a head 59 by a pin 80. The head 59 is in turn screwed onto the threaded free end of the link 48. Wires shown at El and 82 are connected to the solenoid 51 and extend to the electrical circuit of the dry pipe system.

While the operation of the above described mechanism is believed to be obvious, it may be briefly outlined by noting that under ordinary normal conditions, the electrical circuit including the various thermostats and the solenoid 51 is maintained complete, thus energizing the solenoid 51. This causes the plunger 58 to remain in a retracted position. This means that the link 43 is kept outwardly, speaking with reference to the housing part 29, thus compressing the spring 54 and distending the bellows 52. In this position, the ball retaining ring 44 is held immediately opposite to the balls 42, thus holding the latter against the shoulder 43. The balls 42 thereby hold the pin 38 against outward movement, speaking with reference to the valve casing V. This means that the head 40 is kept against the dog 24 where-- by the shoulders 22 and 23 are kept in engagement and the clapper 19 thus held closed against the pressure of water in the conduit section [3.

Should a dangerous condition in the zone which is being protected b this fire protective system be created to actuate one of the thermostats, or should the power fail, the solenoid 51 will be deenergized, and this releases the plunger 52, which in turn releases the link 48. g The bellows 52, together with the spring 54 will now move the cylindrical member 45 and ball retainer 44 inwardly, thereby permitting the bals 42 to fall free from the shoulder 43. The locking pin 38 is thus released and moves outwardly, speaking with reference to the valve casing V. This cutward movement is caused by the pressure of water on the clapper I9, which is transmitted through the shoulders 22 and '23 to the dog 24, and head 40 to the link 38. Thus, the dog 24 is pivoted and disengages the shoulders 22 and 23 to permit the clapper I 9 to open under the influence of water pressure. The water from the source of supply thus passes through the valve casing V to the opening I2, and thence to the dry pipe system which include the usual spray nozzles.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a deluge valve, including a valve casing. a clapper pivotally mounted within said casing, a dog pivotally mounted within said casing and operatively associated with said clapper, a looking pin extending through an opening in the wall of said casing, and having its inner end in operative engagement with said dog, a ball engaging said locking pin to hold said dog in clapper closing position, spring means normally tendovercoming said spring means to maintain said ball in effective engagement with said locking pin. v I

2. In a deluge valve of the character described, a casing, a clapper pivotally mounted in said casing, a dog pivotally mounted within said casing clapper in closed position, a diaphragm housing mounted in a wall of said casing, a locking pin slidable in said housing, said locking pin having a head engaging said dog and a shoulder within said housing, ball elements normally engaging said shouder to hold said locking pin in position in which it afiects said dog to hold said dog .in

clapper closing position, a .ball retainer normally, engaging said ball elements to hold the latter, within engagement of said shoulder, a diaphragm said ball retainer in position holding said balls against said shoulder.

3. A deluge valve including a valve casing, a

clapper valve pivotally mounted within said casing, a locking dog pivotally mounted in said casing and operatively associated with said clapper ing to release said ball, and a solenoid normally I engaging said shoulder to hold said dog in clap- "per closing position, cam means retaining said vg'qelements in engagement with said shoulder,

dog, the outer end of said pin being formed with an annular shoulder, radially movable elements spring means normally tending to release said elements from said shoulder and a solenoid diand normally engaging said clapper to holdsaid ',rectly connected wtih said cam. retaining means and normally overcoming said spring means so a as to maintain said radialliy movable elements within said housing and operatively connected.

in efiective engagement with said shoulder.

LEROY M. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 265,676 Kitsee Oct. 10, 1882 269,273 Evans Dec. 19, 1882 1,494,304 Grabowski May 13, 1924 1,976,022 Hutchinson Oct. 9, 1934 

